Flying target



(No Model.)

P. O. DAMM.

FLYING TARGET.

No. 334,848. Pate nted Jan. 26, 1886.

UNirnn Starts Farnrvr rr nn.

FREDRICK C. DAMM, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

FLYING TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 33 L848, dated January 26, 1886.

Application filed June 3, 1885. Serial No. 167,464. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, FRnDRIcK G. DAMM, acitizen of the United States, residing in Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Targets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying targets which have a concavo-eonvex or dish-shaped form; and the object of this invention is to provide such a target with means whereby it may be held in the swinging arm of a trap in such a manner that it can only be discharged at the moment desired.

A further object is to construct the target in such a manner as to insure its being fractured when struck by shot.

I attain these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a bottom plan view of a flying target embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a central section of the same; Fig. 3, a de tail central section of a modification of the same; Fig. 4, a detail inverted plan view of the same, showing a modification of the means employed for securing the lug to the body of the target; Fig. 5, a detail central vertical sec tion of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a central vertical section of another form of my target.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

These targets are preferably composed of a composition containing pitch, but may be of clay or any other suitable material, and are dish-shaped, as indicated in the several figures of the drawings.

For the purposes of the reception of a suitable stop or projection on the arm of the ma chine for throwing them, the targets are provided with a suitable indentation or perforation, as shown at a in the several figures of the drawings, which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, is formed in a lug, A, projecting laterally from the target and in a line eccentric to the axis of the target, and whether perforated or indented, as shown, as the case may be, is dependent upon the length of the stop or catch on the machine with which they are to be engaged. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

the perforation a is extended entirely through the lug, while in Fig. 3 it is but an in dentation;

and whether a lug or perforation, the walls thereof are preferably provided with a metallic or other lining, b, in order to decrease the liability of breaking out the lug in the act of throwing the target from the machine. These linings, however, may be of any other mate rial than metal adapted for the purpose, and may be inserted in place after the target is formed, or may be placed in the mold and the target formed about them. In order to more effectuall y relieve the lug from strain, and consequently a liability to be fractured in the act of throwing the target, I may, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5, employ a metallic plate, 0, placed upon the under edge of the target, perforated, as shown, and provided with arms extending along the edge of the target beyond each side of the lug, which arms terminate in right angular extensions d, embracing the inner face of the target or embodied therein, as the case may be. By the employment of this plate the lug is almost entirely relieved from strain and the strain distributed a considerable distance in both directions from the lug around the target, and the target thus rendered capable of being subjected to a great force in its delivery t'rom the machine without liability to fracture.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6 the wallsof the perforations or indentations Aare c011- tinuous, and when so constructed the target is not subject to a rotary motion upon an axis, except that of the propelling arm, until after its discharge from the machine.

WVhile the employment of a lug projecting from the target is preferred, for the reception of the indentation or perforation, said lug in some cases may be dispensed with and the perforation or indentation may, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, be formed in the body of the target and at a point removed from its edges; and hence, so far as my invention is involved, it is immaterial to the broad idea whether said perforation be formed in the lug or in the body of the target at some suitable point.

Prior to my invention flying targets of this character have consisted of an annular concavo convex rim having its entire top formed of sheet metal or else of the same material as the rim, and much thinner throughout than the annular rim. In the first instance the metallic top is objectionable, on account of cost, undue weight, and the liability of the shot to glance from the metallic surface, while in the other instance, in which the entire top is of thin material or composition, the shot frequently perforate said top without fracturing the target. To overcome these objections and yet acquire the desired advantage of having a target so constructed that it will readily fracture when struck by the shot, the top Bof my target is of substantially the same thickness as the body or rim 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 2; but in molding this target, I form on the inner side thereof an annular groove, D, which not only decreases the weight of the target, but serves to materially decrease the thickness of the material connecting the top with the sides of the target, and to such an extent that the shot striking cannot perforate the top without fracturing the target or else result in carrying the entire top away, and this top, when carried away by the shot, being of sufficient size, may readily be seen as it drops from the rim or sides of the target through the air. So far, however, as. this branch of my invention is concerned it is immaterial whether the top portion of the target be connected with the annular or rim portion by a contiguity of the material or compound used in construct equivalent as a connection.

While I have shown and described the indentations or perforations provided with a slot or passage extending out the same, the specific claim thereonis reserved for and will be made in a future application.

In conclusion, I may add that I have conv templated providing for an axial motion of the target other than that of the propelling arm, which is not possible in my present invention, by forming a radial slot or groove extending out from the perforation or depression a, for the purpose of releasing the target from the stud engaging the, depression thereof; but I have reserved this point to form the subject-matter for a future application, and do not, therefore, deem it necessary to more particularly describe its relations or functions.

claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A flying target composed of top and sides of substantially the same thickness and a filmlike connection between said top and sides, in combination with a perforation or indentation intermediate said film-like connection and the edges of the target, substantially as described.

2. A flying target provided with a lug projecting outwardly from the edge of the target, said lug being perforated or indented at a point within its edges, substantially as described.

3. A flying target indented or perforated,

Having described my invention, what I I substantially as described,in combination with a metallic lining embracing the walls of said perforation or indentation, substantially as described.

4. A flying target composed of top and sides of substantially the same thickness, in combi-- FREDEIOK O. DAMM.

Witnesses:

W. W. ELLIOTT, WILL R. OMOHUNDRO. 

